The Balearic want to go step by step at the U.S. Open and now must take the second. His match against Denis Istomin provides tough, but affordable
Rafa Nadal has warned that reached the U.S. Open good physically and mentally but "not obsessed" for the title. It is the best way to take off pressure. Want to go game by game, looking for the pace of competition, feelings, adapting to the fast surface, to heat, the balls ... and seeing only the immediate future.
Although on this occasion had to go a little further, since it inexplicably play their second match on the fifth day of competition. "I get physically and mentally well, but I miss tennis a tad better," claimed Cope chain yesterday where he recalled that "I never said to be my best chance to win (the U.S. Open). That's what I can say in the semis or final, but not in second round. "
And is that in the second round will face Russia's Denis Istomin, a hard rock that does not make things easy to Mallorca. Will perform work because the Russian resident in Uzbekistan has arrived in New York probably in the prime of his career.
Rafa knows that will not be easy prey against: "He plays very well, has improved markedly in recent months," the number one to be used to fund pass to the third round, his next immediate goal.
Nadal has faced only once Istomin but do not forget what it took to beat him. It was in the last tournament at Queen's, in full adaptation to the grass ahead of Wimbledon, Russian and forced to shoot clenching. In the end the victory took Rafa, but by a close 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 and a few sweat shirts in the bag completely. Nevertheless, the reality is that the Spaniard should not have Istomin problems to overcome, ranking number 39, but is expected to match those of going point by point, slowly, without nerves, calm, patience and eating little by little morality into Russian. Do not forget that just ten days ago Istomin was a finalist in New Haven, where he yielded to Sergiy Stakhovsky, the first time in his career that reaches the final game of an ATP tournament.
Istomin, who like Nadal is also a big fan of Real Madrid, knows what it is to surpass oneself, because in 2001 he injured his leg in a car accident when he was moving Tashkent tournament. He spent three months in hospital after an intervention with 80 stitches included. He did not touch a racket over two years. But he returned. Tennis is his life and did not surrender.
Today we will see them again with number one. Rafa will be on track as always: "Do not think that I will win but do well to try to win." Good start. The Phantom of the Opera better than Shakira Nadal said in the program Nightime ABC News that his song favorite is "" Music of the night, the musical "The Phantom of the Opera. I love musicals and I think that I've seen about six times in New York. " Recognizes that it is happy living with her mother, but "I need to improve some aspects such as ordering room to please her. She wants it all under control and get their house in order, something often difficult for my fault, "he revealed.